Newberry deputies have arrested a fourth suspect involved in the theft of lawn and farm equipment at SC 34 and Plantation Acres Road, which is east of Newberry.

The suspect was trailed by SLED agents and Sheriff’s deputies using bloodhounds and a helicopter, according to Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster.

“The team tracked the suspect to a farm off Piester Road and stalled,” Foster said. “While deputies were clearing a mobile home nearby that had the doors open, a SLED agent found the subject under a vacant farm house.”

The incident began around 3:10 a.m. Tuesday morning when deputies spotted a blue Tahoe acting suspiciously.

Sheriff Foster said a deputy saw a pick up truck pulling a lawn mower on a trailer and attempted to pull them over. That's when the suspects took off.

Deputies said the men stopped in a cul-de-sac, one suspect jumped out of the vehicle and ran, and deputies took the other three suspects into custody.

Deputies were able to detain three of the suspects, while the fourth fled back toward SC 34.

Bloodhounds and a helicopter have been called in to assist in the search. Sheriff Foster has requested that area residents remove keys and lock their vehicles in addition to locking their homes. If residents observe any suspicious activity they should call 911 immediately.